An aneurysm is a bulge or a balloon looking blood vessel or artery that has dilated and filled with blood, caused by either disease or a weak spot in the vessel.
Aneurysms are most commonly found in arteries at the base of the brain in an area called the circle of willis. The circle of Willis is ring of vessels located below the hypothalamus and the midbrain within the subarachnoid space, and supplies blood to the crebral arteries. As aneurysms begin to increase in size there is an increases risk of the aneurysm bursting, which can severe hemorrhaging and even death.
If an aneurysm is suspected, the Dr. may order a CTA (computed tomography angiography) to do some 3D reconstructions of images of the brain with contrast dye injected. Below is a video of such a 3D study of the circle of willis with an aneurysm is the left upper area. Remember that the pateints left is on your right. Trace the artery on the patients left up to the point where it bifercates or splits and makes an upperward turn, just before the upward turn is a bulg or small circle with a bright spot in the middle, that circle with the bright spot is the aneurysm.
In a true aneurysm, the layers of the artery will separate and blood will fill that area and cause pressure resulting is tha bulge or balloon appearance that is the aneurysm.
Risk fators for aneurysms are, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, alcohol abuse, as well as tobacco use.
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